Eastern Alamance coach John Kirby to return for another season

John Kirby, the veteran coach who led Eastern Alamance High School for more than three decades, has accepted an offer to return for another season as the Eagles’ head football coach. "Going to give it another year," Kirby said. "It feels right."

Kirby first became interim head coach in 1991 and has served as Eastern’s head coach for 32 years while spending 39 years at the school overall, according to his retirement letter posted by the school district in early 2024. That letter said he had decided to retire after a long tenure but remained connected to the program. Eastern principal Suzanne Simpson said Kirby’s return brings much-needed stability. "He’s a known entity," Simpson said. "The boys love him." Simpson also noted the change in workload for Kirby: "It’s just a totally different stress level for him."

The move follows a turbulent stretch for the program. Mitch Mitchener, who arrived in the spring of 2024 after playing collegiately at Appalachian State and coaching one season at Eastern, resigned on June 24 after a 3-8 campaign. The EAHS Athletics Facebook page thanked Mitchener "for his leadership and commitment to Eastern Alamance football" and announced that the Alamance-Burlington School System Board of Education approved Kirby as interim head coach at a board meeting. Kirby returned on an interim basis the following season and guided the Eagles to a 5-7 mark, including a 30-28 loss in the second round of the Class 5-A state playoffs to Wilson Hunt. Eastern finished 3-4 in Mid-Carolina Conference play and placed fifth in the eight-team league.

Kirby has described coaching without the additional duties of teaching and athletic director as a different experience. "You find out what it’s like to not teach and (be the) coach, and not to have to line the field (and other things as AD). It kind of made it easy. It’s a whole lot different," he said. He also emphasized continued growth, noting, "I’m always learning," as he attends the North Carolina Football Coaches Association’s annual meetings.

Local implications extend beyond wins and losses. For players, families and feeder programs in Mebane and surrounding areas, Kirby’s decision ends a period of uncertainty and preserves relationships built over decades. Stability can affect offseason development, coaching continuity for seniors and underclassmen, and the school’s ability to attract assistants and manage logistics during the school year.

Kirby, who "turns 64 in April," could also approach a personal milestone; local reporting noted he "could reach 300 career victories this year." With the ABSS board having approved his interim return and school leaders backing the choice, Eastern Alamance will head into the next season with familiar leadership and a focus on translating incremental postseason progress into sustained success for the Eagles.